How AR is Revolutionizing the Workplace – Weekly Mashup 124

This Engineer Replaced His 4 Monitors with Meta Glasses – And It Might Be the Future of Work
Business Insider

"There's been a lot of hype around augmented reality, but this might be the closest we've come to seeing it actually used in the workplace. Meta, the maker of augmented reality glasses, just did an interview with tech writer Robert Scoble, where it shows how some of the engineers use Meta's augmented reality glasses at work.

One engineer said he got rid of the four monitors he used to have on his desk because he's able to get most of his work done through the Meta glasses now. The engineer showed how he could work on the designs of a 3D object, while checking his email and listening to Spotify through multiple "virtual screens" accessible through the Meta glasses." Read More

Augmented Reality Computer Vision Startup Wrnch Gets $1.8M Series A Led By Mark Cuban
TechCrunch

"Talk to anyone in the AR space right now and the phrase “democratizing x” is bound to arise two or three dozen times. Wrnch CEO Paul Kruszewski says that concept is especially true for the computer vision space, with war chest-toting companies like Magic Leap powering their own technologies while dramatically smaller teams are left to piecemeal their own solutions." Read More

Virtual Reality 'Heroin Cave' Could Help Smack Addicts Kick Habit
NBC News

"Addicts in a new study at the University of Houston will strap on virtual reality headsets and navigate a "heroin cave" to help them try and kick their addictions. Researchers are looking to see if making their way through a simulated house party crammed with stimuli aimed at evoking cravings for the drug will help better equip those who suffer from addiction to do so in the real world." Read More

U.S. Soccer’s Rebranding Gets an Assist From Virtual Reality
New York Times

"For almost two years, the United States Soccer Federation fiddled with the redesign of its most conspicuous symbol: the red, white and blue crest adorning the jerseys of the men’s and women’s national teams. But when it finally came time to unveil the new crest, the federation, the national governing body for soccer, elected to largely bypass the traditional news media. Its announcement on Monday will instead be delivered directly to fans via a more immersive experience — one that involves Google Cardboard, a virtual reality promotional video and a United States Soccer Federation scarf." Read More

Sony Reveals Trick Up Its Sleeve For PlayStation VR In Recent Patent Filing
Forbes

"In September of 2015, Sony stepped out with official branding of what was previously known only under the code name “Project Morpheus.” PlayStation VR seems like a natural for the console platform, a use case application where the install base is deep and wide with plenty of early adopter users ready to take the plunge. Sony has been showcasing various game demos for PlayStation VR since it’s announcement but the other day the USPTO revealed what looks like Sony’s next move." Read More